76 results about "Lead Placement" patented technology

Described are implantable devices and methods for treating various disorders of the pelvic floor by means of electrical stimulation of the pudendal or other nerves, and optional means for delivering drugs in association therewith. A method of precisely positioning and implanting a medical electrical lead so as to provide optimal stimulation of the pudendal nerve or a portion thereof is also described. Placement of a stimulation lead next to or on the pudendal nerve may be performed using conventional prior art techniques through gross anatomical positioning, but usually does not result in truly optimal lead placement. One method of the present invention utilizes neurophysiological monitoring to assess the evoked responses of the pudendal nerve, and thereby provide a method for determining the optimal stimulation site. Additionally, one or more electrical stimulation signals are applied, and optionally one or more drugs are infused, injected or otherwise administered, to appropriate portions of a patient's pelvic floor and pudendal nerve or portions thereof in an amount and manner effective to treat a number of disorders, including, but not limited to, urinary and / or fecal voiding dysfunctions such as constipation, incontinence disorders such as urge frequency and urinary retention disorders, sexual dysfunctions such as orgasmic and erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, prostatitis, prostatalgia and prostatodynia.

A neurostimulating lead is provided for use in stimulating the spinal chord, spinal nerves, or peripheral nerves or for use in deep brain stimulation that comprises an elongated, flexible lead having improved steerability properties. The lead includes a plurality of thin-film metal electrodes connected by conductors embedded within the wall of the lead to electrical contacts at the proximal end of the lead. The lead is further designed to include an internal lumen for use with a guidewire in an over-the-wire lead placement.

A method of placing a pacing lead in the heart includes moving an electrode catheter successively to a plurality of possible placement sites. The viability of the tissue at each site is determined. If the tissue at the site is viable, a pacing signal is applied to the tissue at the site, and the effectiveness of the pacing from the site is measured. After the area has been mapped in this fashion, at least one pacing lead is placed from at least one of the sites which exceeded a predetermined level of pacing effectiveness.

A catheter system includes a mapping catheter having an open lumen and a mapping arrangement provided at a distal end of the mapping catheter. A balloon catheter is movably disposed within the open lumen of the mapping catheter. The balloon catheter has an open lumen dimensioned to receive a lead. A balloon arrangement is provided at a distal end of the balloon catheter and inflatable with an inflation mechanism provided at a proximal end of the balloon catheter. The balloon arrangement is dimensioned to prevent movement of the lead upon inflation of the balloon arrangement, and to permit movement of the lead within the open lumen of the balloon catheter upon deflation of the balloon arrangement.

The invention is directed to medical lead designs that facilitate implantation of the leads through tissue. For example, the leads can implanted though tissue for placement of distal tips of the leads in locations on the opposing side of the tissue. The leads include fixation elements, such as flexible tines, that facilitate fixation to the tissue. The fixation elements can protrude from lead at a location more than 5 millimeters from the distal-tip of the lead such that when the distal tip has passed through the tissue, the fixation elements anchor in the tissue.

MRI compatible localization and / or guidance systems for facilitating placement of an interventional therapy and / or device in vivo include: (a) a mount adapted for fixation to a patient; (b) a targeting cannula with a lumen configured to attach to the mount so as to be able to controllably translate in at least three dimensions; and (c) an elongate probe configured to snugly slidably advance and retract in the targeting cannula lumen, the elongate probe comprising at least one of a stimulation or recording electrode. In operation, the targeting cannula can be aligned with a first trajectory and positionally adjusted to provide a desired internal access path to a target location with a corresponding trajectory for the elongate probe. Automated systems for determining an MR scan plane associated with a trajectory and for determining mount adjustments are also described.

The present disclosure involves a method of determining stimulation lead placements for a healthcare professional with respect to an implant of a neurostimulator device in a target patient. A human body model is provided. A pain map is generated over the human body model in response to user input. The pain map visually represents body regions of the target patient that are experiencing pain. A dermatome map is provided. The dermatome map includes a visual correlation between regions of a human body and segments of a spinal cord. The pain map is compared with the dermatome map. Recommendations regarding the implant of the neurostimulator device are displayed in response to the comparing.

Methods and systems are disclosed that characterize cardiac function using an acceleration sensor to acquire and analyze the frequency dynamics associated with the isovolumic contraction phase (“ICP”). This information can be used to characterize heart function; optimize therapy for cardiomyopathy, including CRT therapy (including pacing intervals and required pharmacologic therapy); and to optimize CCM therapy. In addition, this information can be used to identify target pacing regions for CRT lead placement. Further, analyzing the frequency dynamics can be used to characterize pathologic heart vibrational motion, such as mitral regurgitation and the third or fourth heart sound, and the response of this motion to therapy for cardiomyopathy.

A pulse generator is programmed to generate electrical stimulation to target a sacral nerve or a pudendal nerve of the patient. The electrical stimulation being delivered at least in part via a lead. The electrical stimulation is applied by ramping up a stimulation parameter over time. A first, a second, and a third physiological response are detected from the patient as a result of the electrical stimulation. A first value, a second value, and a third value of the stimulation parameter associated with the first, second, and third physiological response are measured, respectively. A placement of the lead inside the patient is evaluated based on at least one of: a chronological sequence in which the first, second, and third physiological responses occurred, a comparison of the first value with a predetermined threshold, or respective deviations of the second value or the third value from the first value.